Compare towns
Danvers vs Freeport vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Danvers | Freeport | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,802Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #4 of 133 in ME | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 05 | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Freeport High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.2 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.